Hanukkah is an eight-day Feast of Dedication, also known as the Festival of Lights, families and friends look forward to the warmth and glow of this holiday as they observe the lighting of small oil lamps or a 'Menorah'. The evening begins with sacred songs, ceremonies and prayers and traditional games and special foods often follow. Fried potato pancakes (latkes) and fried jelly doughnuts (sufganiot) are just a few of the mouth-watering delicacies. Shimmering foil-wrapped chocolate coins are also found on the Hanukkah table, and some lucky children may even get a shiny silver dollar or a commemorative coin.

Other toys include a dreidel, a four-sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side.

What are the traditional Hanukkah colors?Traditional colors are blue and white.

Help! I'm never sure how to correctly spell this holiday?There are many Hebrew letters/sounds that don't have English equivalents and most words don't have standardized, commonly accepted translations. Chanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukkah or Hanukah are some of the spellings that you may have seen. There is a wide acceptance of a variety of spellings. In this instance, we deferred to the Associated Press Stylebook.

What does kosher mean?The Jewish religion has specific kosher dietary practices. While many individuals do not follow these guidelines, it is a good idea to be aware of this possibility if you are giving a gift of food. Products that have been certified as kosher are labeled with a mark called a hekhsher that ordinarily identifies the rabbi or organization that certified the product.

I've been invited to a Hanukkah celebration. Is it appropriate to bring a gift?Absolutely! Just as you might bring a hostess gift during other times of the year, a small gift for your host is a thoughtful touch. If your host has children, you might consider a box of chocolate coins (gelt)-always popular!